The Puzzle Project

Hi Everyone!

As promised, I am updating this Blog every month!  Let's see how long I can keep it up!

Life here is good.  I continue to enjoy every afternoon with the children at the BNC.  The computer room is up and running with four computers, and we are hoping to get 6 more for a total of ten!  The kids LOVE playing the educational games, and it has most definitely sparked their interest in reading and math!  That was precisely our goal, and it is FABULOUS to see the kids so animated about learning!  Big thanks to my housemate Sebastian who set the whole thing up, the Rotary clubs of Ossining, New York and Windhoek Auas for donating the needed hard drives, monitors, keyboards, mice and speakers, and Jim "Scooter" for his two months of volunteering with the kids and specifically running the computer room.  He leaves on saturday and there will be LOTS of tears shed!  If you want to read some EXCELLENT accounts of life here in Namibia, PLEASE read his blog!  He is a great writer and has wonderful stories about the children!  His blogsite is:  jmcken82.blogspot.com.  His photos of the children are beautiful!

In the mornings I have been asked to go to several kindergartens to assist the teachers.  When I arrive there are usually 50 or 60 kids running around in total chaos.  The teachers have little or no training, no teacher's manuals or lesson plans and no educational materials.  I bring my little guitar and sing with the kids, then read them stories and play the educational games that I have made from recycled materials.  But what I quickly discovered is that the two and three year olds, (and even many of the four and five year olds) cannot focus or pay attention for even five minutes.  They need to play!  that is what they are supposed to do!  and they need toys and blocks and puzzles to play with!  I was sent some fabulous wooden puzzles from my friends in the USA, and realized that every kindergarten in Namibia should have these puzzles for the kids to play with.  Instead of buying them in the USA and paying to ship them over here, why not train Namibian men and women how to make them?  They could make them here and I could take donations from family and friends and pay them for the materials and their labor.  In that way they could earn an income, learn a trade, and supply the kindergartens with educational game for the kiddies.  Best of all, if a piece is lost or broken, we just make a new one!

I was introduced to Zulu, who is an amazing carpenter and artist.  He is famous for creating playgrounds and doing murals all over Katutura.  He is currently out of work, so he was thrilled to take on the project.  He quickly produced two puzzles, one of the ABC's and the other of numbers 0 to 9.  We decided that US $20.00 for the number puzzle and $30.00 for the ABC puzzle was fair considering his labor and the materials. 

Now, to get the cost down, I am planning on learning how to make the puzzles from Bill, a carpenter friend of mine in the states.  I will then teach the kindergarten teachers how to make the puzzles, blocks and other wooden games.  Money donated  can go towards the wood, paint and tools, but the labor will be free, and the teachers will REALLY appreciate and care for the puzzles after putting in their time and effort.  Any teacher who does not want to maker her own puzzles can pay someone else to make them for her.  We can also have teacher workshops and give puzzles as prizes and rewards to the teachers who show the most effort in planning and implementing the lessons for the children.  This is all a way to make the kindergartens healthy and positive learning environments for the kids.  Here in Namibia anyone can just put up a corrogated tin shack and start their own kindergarten, there are no guidelines or regulations.  In one sense that is good, for it allows women to earn a living and also provide daycare for children in the informal settlements.  The drawbacks are that often the women have no educational materials or even the imagination or creativity to make them.  So, these wooden toys, puzzles and games will open up an entirely new world of learning for the teachers and kids!

I thank all of you for your generous donations, and want you to know that I will use the money to help begin the puzzle project!  I will keep you updated as to how it is going, and please feel free to give me advice if you have experience in this field!  Or better still, come on over and help me figure it all out! 

Thanks to all of you who sent children's books!  I have received THOUSANDS of books, which I immediately separate and donate to the schools, libraries and community centers all over Katutura.  Thanks for the soccer uniforms and other educational materials as well!  Thanks for EVERYTHING!!  I could NEVER be here without your financial, emotional and spiritual support! 

Take care and know of my love and prayers from the other side of the globe!!
love,
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
mb :)

Comments

[preachermom]

Well Done, MB!

This not only sounds exciting, but must be so empowering and non-threatening for the adults concerned. My prayers continue for the success of this and your other projects.

Keep up the good work on the blog. Having people check in regularly will keep us more connected, and also increase your audience.

Looking forward to your notching up in the tech end with the photos.

Love, Mom

[Evan]

Hi MaryBeth-

Evan here, former CGE student, worked with Abigail and Family Hope Sanctuary? Ring a bell? I hope it does :)

Boy have you gone high-tech with this blog site. I am blown away by your continued work and dedication to the organizations and children you work with. Your endless enthusiasm and vision is inspiring.

Since leaving Namibia last August I have been working to finish my BA here at Clark in International Development and Social Change. I have a job helping run a youth program here in Worcester for the summer and then will be entering a Community Development and Planning Master's program here at Clark.

I think about Namibia and the people I was able to work with on a daily basis. It is so hard to keep yourself grounded in what "really" matters when you get so caught up in the busy work of life here in the states.

I can't wait to read your archived blogs now that I've stumbled upon them and hear about all the great work you've been helping to promote.

I would love to hear how the FHS is doing!!

All the best!

Lots of love!! Evan

[Lourdes]

Hi Dear Marybeth:
Your work and dedication toward helping children is admirable. You haven't changed at all, your smile is always present in all the pictures where you are.
I think that a person like you is like an angel that brightens the world, and we need more people like you.
I hope someday you go to Bolivia with your organization. As you saw there, there is a poverty and malnutritioned children. I hope things change in my country so people have more opportunities to a better and healthy life.
Thank you in the name of all the beautiful kids I saw in the pictures. God bless you a lot for your work with his children.
Love you and admire you a lot!

Your bolivian friend Lourdes
XOXOXOXOXOXO